Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

It is a Good Thing To Give Thanks Unto the LORD!
How Wonderful You Are,
Abba Father,
and How Glorious!
How Joyfully we long to draw water from the Endless Well of Your Salvation!
How We Delight To Dance in the rain,
Like the Israelis do,
after a long, hot, summer of thirsting for Your Redemption!
How we love to shout with Joy,
Splashing through great Fountains of Blessings,
The streets of Your Holy City overwhelmed by the sudden Abundance,
All the while, linking arms and singing,
"Mayim, Mayim, Mayim!"
(Water, Water, Water!)

LORD, How You have Blessed Israel
since the Founding of the Modern State in 1948!
Where before, there were only deserts,
there are now acres of vegetables and flowers.
Where before, there were heaps of ruins,
there are now beautiful neighborhoods that offer a place
to live to people from all aver the world.
Where once, Holy Places revered by many were left to rot,
Now they are restored and have become places of Worship once more.

We Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem,
According to your Will and Promise.
We Pray For The Swift and Sure Coming of Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Establish His Kingdom,
and Make All Things Right.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Isaiah

Those of us familiar with the Gospel Accounts will instantly recognize that this Passage was read by Jesus of Nazareth at His home town synagogue after He had been ministering for a while. It was a reunion of sorts, as the town folk were interested in what became of the Village Carpenter who had become a Rabbi.

In modern-day synagogues, members of the community are called up to the bema (high place) to read the designated readings for that day. They are usually called up in order, first, a Cohen (someone who can trace back his family to the tribe of Aaron), then a Levite (someone who can trace back to Levi) and then an Israelite (someone who can trace back to Jacob, or "Israel"). Since ancient times, these catagories have been blurred, but usually there is something in a person's last name that would give us a hint (Cohen, Kahane, etc = Aaron, or "Priest", "Levine, Leavitt, Levi, etc = "Levite", and then all the other names would indicate "Israelite"). In any case, Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, was called upon to go up and read one of the Day's Readings. And it was Isaiah 61.

The fury of the people was unleashed when Jesus, after reading from the scroll, said Today, this is fulfilled..." What an uproar this caused! How DARE He!The people were very angry at this local tradesman saying such a thing!

Sometimes, the very people who should know you the best seem to not have a clue about you at all. And these are often the very same people who reject and scoff at some deep spiritual insight that you may have. It is very easy to feel rejected and hurt when this happens.

Just remember...You are NOT alone.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS